If you’re anything like me, I tend to start looking for something sweet after dinner. This is an easy way to derail my health goals but there are some great healthier alternatives to sugar laden desserts. This recipe is from the Ochsner blog and is really delicious. If you wanted to make it completely sugar free, you can replace the turbinado with Swerve. It may change the consistency a bit but it will lower the calorie count significantly. I loved the addition of dark chocolate but that can be omitted or a small handful of raisins would make it a bit more traditional (my favorite). Either way, these are wonderful, hot out of the oven with cup of espresso! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup coconut oil, softened

• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

• 3/4 cup Stevia in the raw

• 3/4 cup Turbinado sugar

• 3/4 cup milled flax seed

• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ginger

• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)

• 3 cups old fashioned oats

• 1/2 cup dark (or semisweet) chocolate chips

Instructions

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 baking sheets with non-stick spray.

2.  In a large bowl, beat the butter, Stevia, and sugar together. Blend in the flaxseed. Mix in the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and combine well.

3.  In a separate bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and oats. Mix well.

4.  Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ones and mix together. Fold in the chocolate chips.

5.  Using an ice cream scoop, drop the dough onto the cookie sheet and shape with the bake of the spoon until slightly flattened (these will not spread out very much).

6.  Bake for 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Nutrition Information: Serving Size (1)

Yields (18)

Calories: 200, Fat 8 grams

https://blog.ochsner.org/recipes/healthier-holiday-cookies-whole-grain-apple-oat-cookies